Multilineage Potential of Cells From the Artery Wall

Abstract

Background-In diabetes or atherosclerosis, ectopic bone, fat, cartilage, and marrow often develop in arteries. However the mechanism is unknown. We have previously identified a subpopulation of vascular cells (calcifying vascular cells, CVC), derived by dilutional cloning of bovine aortic medial cells, and showed that they undergo osteoblastic differentiation and mineralization. We now show that CVC have the potential to differentiate along other mesenchymal lineages. Methods and Results-To determine the multilineage potential of CVC, molecular and functional markers of multiple mesenchymal lineages were assessed. Chondrogenic potential of CVC was evidenced by expression of types II and IX collagen and cytochemical staining for Alcian blue. Leiomyogenic potential of CVC was evidenced by the expression of smooth muscle-␣ actin, calponin, caldesmon, and myosin heavy chain. Stromogenic potential of CVC was evidenced by the ability to support growth of colony-forming units of hematopoietic progenitor cells from human CD34 ϩ umbilical cord blood cells for a period of 5 weeks. Adipogenic potential was not observed. CVC were immunopositive to antigens to CD29 and CD44 but not to CD14 or CD45, consistent with other mesenchymal stem cells. CVC retained multipotentiality despite passaging and expansion through more than 20 to 25 population triplings, indicating a capacity for self-renewal. Conclusions-These

Concise Review: Wharton's Jelly: The Rich, but Enigmatic, Source of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells

“…The term “perivascular cells” commonly includes classically defined pericytes surrounding the microvasculature, as well as other nonpericyte cells within the perivascular niche of the macrovasculature which have also been shown to display properties of MSCs 53, 54, 55. However, recent evidence would suggest a clear functional distinction between pericytes and MSC progenitors in the perivascular niche 56.…”

Atherosclerotic Calcification: Wnt Is the Hint

“…Studies have shown calcifying vascular cells to express pericyte markers, such as α‐smooth muscle actin and 3G5 93. These studies, in combination with the knowledge that pericytes can undergo chondrogenic, osteogenic, and adipogenic differentiation,107, 108 contrasts the function of vascular cells, which can only undergo chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation 109. This prompted the hypothesis that calcifying vascular cells originate from pericytes that have been exposed to Wnt signaling 102…”

High-phosphate-induced calcification is related to SM22α promoter methylation in vascular smooth muscle cells

“…(1,(5)(6)(7)(8)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18) Our results are the first to relate DNA methylation with the loss of smooth muscle lineage marker SM22a in VSMCs incubated with high phosphate. SM22a promoter methylation decreases SM22a gene expression, and this fact could facilitate phenotypic transition of VSMCs to osteoblast-like cell.…”